Hacker Dictionary

Here is a short lit of most commonly used terms and words used by professional hackers around the world. Anyne you speak with over the phone should be able to answer, off the top of their head, any question you ask with technical suave.

Hacker: An individual with advanced computer skills who can exploit vulnerabilities in systems for various purposes, including security testing or malicious intent.

Cracker: Someone who engages in hacking with malicious intent, typically for unauthorized access or data theft.

Phishing: A technique in which hackers impersonate legitimate entities to trick users into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials.

Malware: Malicious software designed to harm or compromise a computer system, including viruses, Trojans, and ransomware.

Virus: A type of malware that attaches itself to legitimate programs and spreads when those programs are executed.

Trojan Horse: Malware disguised as legitimate software that can infiltrate a system and provide unauthorized access to hackers.

Ransomware: Malware that encrypts a victim's files and demands a ransom for the decryption key.

Botnet: A network of compromised computers, or "bots," controlled by a single entity for various malicious activities.

Zero-Day Vulnerability: A security flaw in software or hardware that is unknown to the vendor and, therefore, unpatched.

Exploit: A piece of code or technique used to take advantage of vulnerabilities in software or systems.

Backdoor: A hidden or unauthorized method of accessing a system, often created by hackers for future access.

Denial of Service (DoS) Attack: An attack that overwhelms a system or network with excessive traffic to disrupt its normal operation.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack: A DoS attack orchestrated from multiple sources to amplify its impact.

Firewall: A security device or software that filters network traffic to prevent unauthorized access.

Intrusion Detection System (IDS): A security system that monitors network or system activity for suspicious behavior or attacks.

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): A security system that not only detects but also actively blocks potential threats.

Packet Sniffing: Capturing and analyzing data packets as they travel across a network to gather information or exploit vulnerabilities.

Social Engineering: Manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security.

Keylogger: A type of malware that records keystrokes on a compromised system, often used to steal login credentials.

Payload: The malicious code or action that a hacker's exploit carries out after successfully compromising a system.

Rootkit: Malicious software that provides unauthorized access to a system while concealing its presence.

Buffer Overflow: A vulnerability that occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can handle, potentially allowing for code execution.

Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack: A type of attack where an attacker intercepts and potentially alters communication between two parties.

White Hat Hacker: Ethical hackers who use their skills to identify and fix security vulnerabilities with permission.

Black Hat Hacker: Malicious hackers who engage in cybercrime for personal gain or harm.

Gray Hat Hacker: Individuals who operate between ethical and malicious hacking, sometimes without proper authorization.

Bug Bounty Program: An initiative that rewards individuals for responsibly disclosing security vulnerabilities to organizations.

Zero-Day Exploit: An exploit targeting a zero-day vulnerability, often used before a vendor can release a patch.

Cybersecurity: The practice of protecting computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access or damage.

Encryption: The process of converting data into a secure code to protect its confidentiality.

Decryption: The reverse process of converting encrypted data back to its original form.

Cryptography: The study of secure communication techniques, including encryption and decryption.

Penetration Testing: Ethical hacking performed to identify and address vulnerabilities in a system.

Payload: The part of an exploit that carries out the intended malicious action after a successful compromise.

Social Engineering: Manipulating individuals into revealing confidential information or taking actions that compromise security.

DNS Spoofing: Redirecting domain name system (DNS) requests to malicious websites to intercept traffic.

Worm: Self-replicating malware that spreads to other systems without user interaction.

Brute Force Attack: A method of trying all possible combinations to guess a password or encryption key.

Honeypot: A decoy system or network designed to attract hackers and monitor their activities.

Vulnerability: A weakness or flaw in a system or software that can be exploited by attackers.

Patch: A software update or fix released by vendors to address security vulnerabilities.

Pharming: Redirecting website traffic to a fraudulent site, often used for phishing attacks.

Exploit Kit: A toolkit containing various exploits to target multiple vulnerabilities.

Adware: Software that displays unwanted advertisements to generate revenue for hackers.

Root Access: Privileged access to the root or administrative account of a system.

Malvertising: Malicious advertisements that can deliver malware to users' devices.

Logic Bomb: Malicious code that triggers a specific action when certain conditions are met.

Botmaster: An individual who controls a botnet.

C2 (Command and Control) Server: A server used by hackers to control compromised systems.

Payload Delivery: The method by which an attacker delivers malicious code to a target system.

Hacker Tools: Software or scripts used by hackers to perform various tasks, from scanning for vulnerabilities to launching attacks.

Fuzzing: A technique that involves sending random or unexpected data to a program to discover vulnerabilities.

Data Breach: Unauthorized access to sensitive data, often resulting in its exposure or theft.

APT (Advanced Persistent Threat): A long-term and sophisticated cyberattack, often attributed to nation-states.

Patch Management: The process of applying security patches and updates to systems and software.

Cyber Hygiene: Best practices and measures individuals and organizations should follow to maintain digital security.

VPN (Virtual Private Network): A technology that encrypts internet connections to enhance privacy and security.

Incident Response Plan: A predefined set of actions to take in the event of a cybersecurity incident.

Threat Vector: The means by which a cyber threat can enter a system or network.

Security Audit: A systematic evaluation of an organization's security policies, procedures, and controls.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): A security measure that requires users to provide multiple forms of authentication to access an account or system.

Root Access: Elevated access privileges that grant full control over a system or network.

Zero Trust Security: A security model that distrusts all users and devices by default, requiring verification for access.

Cyber Threat Intelligence: Information about potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities used to enhance security.

Session Hijacking: Unauthorized access to an ongoing user session, often through session tokens or cookies.

Zero Knowledge Proof: A cryptographic method that allows one party to prove knowledge of a secret without revealing the secret itself.

IoT (Internet of Things) Security: Protecting interconnected smart devices and networks from cyber threats.

Dark Web: A hidden part of the internet where illegal activities often occur, including the sale of stolen data and hacking services.

Blockchain Security: Ensuring the security and integrity of blockchain networks and cryptocurrencies.

AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Cybersecurity: The use of AI algorithms to enhance threat detection and response.

Quantum Computing: A technology with potential implications for breaking current encryption methods, requiring new cybersecurity approaches.

Red Team vs. Blue Team: Simulated cybersecurity exercises where "red teams" act as attackers, and "blue teams" defend against them.

Threat Actor: An individual, group, or entity responsible for cyberattacks or threats.

IoC (Indicator of Compromise): A piece of data that indicates a security incident or breach, such as malware signatures or abnormal network traffic.

Cyber Insurance: Insurance policies that provide financial protection in the event of a cybersecurity incident.

Vulnerability Assessment: A systematic review of systems and networks to identify potential weaknesses.

Web Application Firewall (WAF): A security solution that filters and protects web applications from various attacks.

Cyber Kill Chain: A step-by-step model that outlines the stages of a cyberattack, from initial reconnaissance to data exfiltration.

Deep Web: Parts of the internet not indexed by search engines and often requiring specific access or authorization.

CISO (Chief Information Security Officer): The executive responsible for an organization's information security strategy and management.

Patch Tuesday: The day when Microsoft typically releases security updates and patches.

Cryptography Key: A piece of information used in cryptographic algorithms to encrypt and decrypt data.

NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology): A U.S. federal agency that sets standards and guidelines for information security.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): A security model that requires authentication and verification for network access.

Cybersecurity Framework: A structured approach to managing and improving an organization's cybersecurity posture.

Root Cause Analysis: Investigating the underlying causes of a cybersecurity incident or breach.

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): A system that collects and analyzes security data from various sources to identify threats.

Network Segmentation: Dividing a network into smaller segments to enhance security and control access.

Honeynet: A network designed to lure and study cyber attackers' behaviors and techniques.

Virus Signature: A unique pattern or code that identifies a specific virus or malware variant.

White Box Testing: A security testing approach where testers have full knowledge of the internal system architecture.

Black Box Testing: A security testing approach where testers have no prior knowledge of the system's internal structure.

VPN Tunneling: The process of encrypting and securely transmitting data between two endpoints over a VPN.

Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS): A security system that monitors network traffic for signs of intrusion or suspicious activity.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): A web application vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

Cryptography Key Management: The process of generating, storing, and protecting cryptographic keys.

Security Token: A physical or virtual device used for two-factor authentication or access control.

Security Awareness Training: Education and training programs aimed at improving individuals' cybersecurity awareness and behaviors.

Security Incident Response Team (SIRT): A team responsible for coordinating responses to cybersecurity incidents.

Digital Forensics: The process of collecting, preserving, and analyzing digital evidence to investigate cybercrimes and security incidents.